Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory are the only A-League sides left in the Australia Cup after Macarthur and Melbourne City were knocked out by SD Raiders and Lions FC in Tuesday night’s Round of 16 action.
In a local derby, SD Raiders completed a fairy tale triumph from the penalty spot after it finished 1-1 after 120 minutes, stunning revenge after a 5-0 result against them against Macarthur a year ago.
They finished with 20 shots to 11, with eight shots on target to 1, but looked to be heading out after Zane Helweh’s moment of A-League quality to put Mile Sterjovski’s side ahead at the start of extra-time, after it finished 0-0 after 90 minutes.
What a hit by Helweh!
The deadlock is broken in stunning fashion as Zane Helweh blasts @mfcbulls in front in extra time with a stellar solo goal
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pic.twitter.com/oJuckklnqJ
— Paramount+ Australia (@ParamountPlusAU) August 11, 2026
But, the minnows conjured an equaliser in the 115th minute after an own goal from a wicked delivery from the left. It sparked incredible celebrations.
Their progress to the final eight comes after they earned promotion to NPL NSW for the first time.
“It is a real credit because those clubs are built on volunteers, on grassroots football, on the youngsters coming through aspiring to play for their senior men’s and women’s team,” Paramount pundit Grace Gill said after the game.
“Now there’s a genuine pathway with their women’s promotion to NPL 1 and now to the men’s, in the quarter-final of the Australia Cup.
“(Tonight), they were dominant.”
LATE DRAMA IN THE DERBY!
SD Raiders draw level at the death and we’re headed to penalties in the Round of 16!
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— Paramount+ Australia (@ParamountPlusAU) August 11, 2026
“I think they deserved it,” pundit Roy O’Donovan said on Paramount afterwards, who called the win “just reward”. He added: “in the end, the football gods won out and SD Raiders (are) deservedly in the hat!”
Goalkeeper Miguel Figueiria beamed on Paramount: “I think we played better than them, we had better chances to score, their keeper made some fantastic saves. In the end of the day, we won, that’s it!
“We played better than them, I think, and we unfortunate not score in 90 minutes.”
FAIRYTALE COMPLETE IN FAIRFIELD!
Absolute scenes in Sydney’s south west, as Jakov Malbasa buries the final penalty to secure SD Raider’s spot in the Final 8 of the Australia Cup
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— Paramount+ Australia (@ParamountPlusAU) August 11, 2026
Earlier, a horror own goal with a mix-up at the back from Melbourne City got them off to an appalling start 20 minutes into their clash in Queensland against Lions FC, who built on their form in NPL Queensland to cash in on an understrength City to prevail 2-0 with Mitch Hore grabbing the second.
“Yes, this is a younger City team but when you look at their line-up they are established A-League players,” Gill observed.
“Even though they are 18, 19 years old, these are names we know.
“I think there will be a little bit of looking in the mirror at themselves and reflecting on what they could’ve done better.”
Six A-League clubs eliminated by NPL level clubs so far means we are guaranteed to have a second tier side in the final once again after Heidelberg’s run last season.
What does that say about the current state of the A-League clubs, two months out from season kick-off?
Speaking on Paramount, former A-League striker O’Donovan said: “The way budgets are currently in the A-League, where clubs don’t know how much they have to spend, the last couple of years the squads are getting less and less experience.
“Experienced, high level players demand the big bucks.
“You can see those players coming out of those teams and they are suffering.
“It is great to have young players coming through – but – without the senior players leading the way especially on nights like this in men’s football, you can’t have men against boys, because the NPL see this every week.
“You’re going to come undone and unfortunately the A-League teams are coming undone.”
Melbourne City’s Starting XI: 40. James NIEUWENHUIZEN (GK), 13. Nathaniel ATKINSON (C), 4. Liam BONETIG, 2. Harrison DELBRIDGE, 22. Peter ANTONIOU, 24. Kavian RAHMANI, 14. Besian KUTLESHI, 41. Lawrence WONG, 35. Medin MEMETI, 38. Beckham BAKER, 17. Max CAPUTO.